US jet seized in Zimbabwe released after crew, cash, cleared

HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — Zimbabwean authorities have released a U.S.-registered cargo jet that was impounded earlier this week after a dead body and cash was found aboard.

Police spokeswoman Charity Charamba said Saturday that police and immigration officials allowed the crew to return to South Africa.

She said the plane was transporting 67 tons of South African currency, belonging to South Africa's central bank. Charamba said the money was also returned to South African authorities.

Charamba said the MD-11 trijet, owned by Florida-based Western Global Airlines, was travelling from Germany to South Africa when it stopped in the Zimbabwean capital Harare to refuel. Authorities noticed blood dripping from the plane.

Charamba said the dead person was likely a stowaway. A post-mortem report found that the person had died from asphyxiation.